New Mexico Counselor License Exam
To get licensed in New Mexico, Professional Counselors are required to take an exam covering such subjects as assessment and diagnosis, counseling and psychotherapy and professional ethics. Whether you live in Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe, or another city or county, the resources below will help you get started on the path to receive your Professional Counselor’s license.
Need of a License: A license is needed to work as a counselor in New Mexico. There are two levels of licensure: Licensed Professional Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), and Licensed Professional Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LPCC). Both licenses are granted by the Board and Commission of Counseling and Therapy Practice. The LMHC must practice under supervision at all times, as is intended as a transitional, rather than terminal credential, to eventually earn the LPCC credential.
To qualify to become a licensed professional counselor in New Mexico, the following must be met:
- Obtain a graduate degree in counseling from an accredited school meeting credit limits.
- LPCCs must meet supervised clinical experience requirements of 3,000 hours of postgraduate professional counseling, including at least 100 hours of supervision.
- An applicant must earn a passing score on the NCE (National Counselor Exam) to become an LMHC, and the NCE and the National Clinical Mental Health Counselor Examination (NCMHCE) to become an LPCC.
How to Apply for Licensure
An applications for licensure for LMHC and application for licensure for LPCC other documentation can be obtained online. All documents must be sent to:
Counseling and Therapy Practice Board
2550 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87505
1-505-476-4610
1-505-476-4633 (fax)
Test Content of the NCE
The NCE consists of 200 multiple-choice questions and is administered over a four-hour period. The NCE covers the following six knowledge, skill and task domains:
- Professional Practice and Ethics
- Intake, Assessment and Diagnosis
- Areas of Clinical Focus
- Treatment Planning
- Counseling Skills and Interventions
- Core Counseling Attributes
The questions are aligned to the following CACREP Common Core Areas:
- Human Growth and Development
- Social and Cultural Diversity
- Counseling and Helping Relationships
- Group Counseling and Group Work
- Career Development
- Assessment and Testing
- Research and Program Evaluation
- Professional Orientation and Ethical Practice
For more information, see the NCE Candidate Handbook.
How to Apply to Take the Exam
Apply online to take the NCE.
Test content of the NCMHCE
The test format comprises of 12 to 14 case studies. Each case study is followed by 10 multiple-choice questions, divided into counseling phases: the intake and assessment phase, the first follow-up counseling session, and the second follow-up counseling session. Candidates will have one hour and 45 minutes to complete the exam.
Six different counseling domains will be addressed throughout these case simulations, to include:
- Intake, Assessment, and Diagnosis
- Treatment Planning
- Counseling Skills and Interventions
- Professional Practice and Ethics
- Core Counseling Attributes
- Areas of Clinical Focus, which is the given information provided in each case study
For more information, see the NCMHCE Candidate Handbook.
How to Apply to Take the Exam
Apply online to take the NCMHCE.
License Renewal and Continuing Education Requirements
To renew a LCMC or LPCC license, regulations require 40 clock hours of continuing education every two year licensure renewal period, in acceptable courses and programs offered by approved Continuing Education providers. Six hours of continuing education must be completed in professional ethics. 12 hours may be home study, e.g., reading and testing, and 12 hours may be on-line study, e.g., webinars.
